132 BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 



plication of pneumonia. Pleurisy will be described here as an inde- 

 pendent affection, although it should be remembered that it is very 

 often associated with the foregoing diseases. ' 



The first lesion of pleurisy is overfilling of the blood vessels that 

 ramify in this membrane, and drjniess of the surface. This is fol- 

 lowed b}' the formation of a coating of coagulated fibrin on the 

 diseased pleura and the transudation of serum which collects in the 

 chest. This serum may contain flakes of fibrin and it may be straw 

 colored or red from an admixture of blood. The quantity of this 

 accumulation may amount to several gallons. 



Symptoms. — ^When the disease exists as an independent affection it 

 is ushered in by a chill, but this is usually overlooked. About the 

 first thing noticed is the disinclination of the animal to move or turn 

 round. When made to do so he grunts or groans with pain. He 

 stands stiff; the ribs are fixed, that is, the ribs move very little in the 

 act of breathing, but the abdomen works more than natural; both the 

 fore feet and elbows may be turned out; during the onset of the 

 attack the animal may be restless and act as if he had a slight colic; 

 he may even lie down, but does not remain long down, for when he 

 finds no relief he soon gets up. After effusion begins these signs of 

 restlessness disappear. Every movement of the chest causes pain, 

 therefore the cough is peculiar; it is short and suppressed, and comes 

 as near being no cougli as the animal can make it in his desire to sup- 

 press it. The breathing is hurried, the mouth is hot, the temperature 

 being elevated from 102^ or 103° to 105° F. The usual sj^mptoms 

 that accompany fever are present, such as costivcness, scanty dark- 

 colored urine, etc. The pulse is frequent, perhaps TO or more a 

 minute, and is hard and Aviry. The legs and cars are cold. 



Percussion is of valuable service in this affection. After effusion 

 occurs, the sound produced by percussing over the lower part of the 

 chest is dull. B}- striking different parts One may come to a spot of 

 greater or less extent where the blows cause much pain to be evinced. 

 The animal may grunt or groan every time it is struck. Another 

 method of detecting the affected part is to press the fingers between 

 the ribs, each space in succession, beginning behind the elbow, until 

 5^ou arrive at a place where the pressure causes more flinching than at 

 any other part. Auscultation ii also useful. In the first stage, when 

 the surfaces are dry and rough, one ma}'^ hear a friction sound ver}' 

 much like that produced b}^ rubbing two pieces of coarse paper 

 together. The sound appears immediatel}^ under the ear and is dis- 

 tinct. No such friction sound occurs when the membrane is health}^, 

 as the natural moisture, heretofore mentioned, prevents the friction. 

 In many cases this friction is so pronounced that it may be felt by 

 placing the hand over the affected part. When the dry stage is sue- 



